"Our government is the potent, the omnipresent teacher. For good or for ill it teaches the whole people by its example.
Crime is contagious. If the government becomes a law breaker, it breeds contempt for law; it invites every man to become a law unto himself."
–Supreme Court Justice Brandeis

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Baltimore Judge Marries Accused Abuser to Victim During Trial to Avoid Testimony

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/TheLaw/baltimore-judge-marries-alleged-abuser-victim-trial/story?id=10126378&page=3

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Judge Marries Alleged Victim, Puts Her on Stand Minutes Later

Wood and his betrothed were excused for the 25 minute drive to the Towson court to get a marriage license and were married back in Russell's chambers a short time later.

Once the trial reconvened, his new bride was immediately put on the witness stand.

"She invokes her marital privilege so there's no evidence in the case. And the judge finds him not guilty," Ryan said.

Whether anyone files a complaint against Russell remains to be seen. A spokesman for the Maryland Commission on Judicial Disabilities said complaints against any judge are confidential until that judge is publicly charged.

There are no public actions on record for Russell.

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